West Ham boss Graham Potter has responded to a question about Tomas Soucek as links to Leeds and Everton intensify and he’s made it clear exactly what they’d be getting.
Leeds United and Everton are reportedly jostling for position in a bid to sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham this summer.
David Moyes is said to have made Hammers fan favourite Soucek Everton’s prime target – and the Scot has made it clear he has money to spend.
Meanwhile the owners of newly-promoted Leeds have stated they are going to show ambition in the transfer market with in excess of £100m to spend.
Speculation intensifies over ‘for-sale’ West Ham star Soucek
Behind Jarrod Bowen, Soucek has proved to be West Ham’s most consistent player in the last five years.
The big Czech midfielder scored his ninth goal of the season for the Hammers in a 2-0 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
But with West Ham desperate to offload players due to PSR, talk of selling Soucek to Everton or Leeds is not going away.
In fact football correspondent Graeme Bailey has claimed West Ham are open to selling Soucek and that there are more clubs than just Everton and Leeds interested.
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
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There have been conflicting reports about how much West Ham would want for the 30-year-old.
Some suggest the Hammers would only be looking to recoup their original £15m outlay while others state they want at least £25-30m.
Many Hammers fans are angry at the prospect of Soucek being sold to a Premier League rival.
It was recently reported that West Ham’s manager is open to selling Soucek amid the interest from Everton and Leeds.
Graham Potter allegedly has ‘increasing doubts about the 30-year-old’s energy levels in midfield’ as he looks to revolutionise the way West Ham play with a summer overhaul.
Potter tells Leeds and Everton what they’d be getting in Soucek
Soucek was also then frozen out of the starting XI recently by the Englishman for the first time in his Hammers career until forcing his way back in of late.
Potter has already made it clear there will be a big change of the guard at West Ham this summer.
Special plans are in place for West Ham’s last home game of the season as the club looks set to bid farewell to at least eight players.
While many don’t want to say goodbye to Soucek, selling him may prove to be a necessary evil as part of the manager’s overhaul around younger, more dynamic players.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Now West Ham boss Potter has told Leeds and Everton what they’d be getting in a response on Soucek.
With speculation rife that the Toffees and Elland Road outfit are forming an orderly queue to buy the four-time Czech player of the year, it was understandably one of the first things Potter was asked about in his latest press conference.
And if West Ham are planning to sell, as claimed by Bailey, then Soucek has just been given a ringing endorsement as Everton and Leeds circle.
Potter had nothing but praise for Soucek but stopped short of offering any concrete statement on his future one way or another.
Hammers boss raves about Soucek but offers no assurances
“He’s been a fantastic signing for the club first and foremost,” Potter said on Soucek.
“To deliver what he’s delivered over a period of time, brilliant in the boxes, helps defensively, set-pieces and then to chip in, as a midfielder, with goals is vital.
“Again, another one who goes about his work in a quiet way but always 100 per cent, always giving everything. So he’s been fantastic to work with.”
Hammers insider Sean Whetstone recently claimed Soucek looks ‘odds-on’ to join Everton this summer.
But Soucek himself is said to be determined to stay at West Ham and even wants to retire in east London.
When he welcomed a son into the world last week, Soucek called him a ‘new Hammer’.